Virginia Square Sector Plan Review (DRAFT -- 1/29/01)

Parks, Open Space,
And Cultural Amenities

• Consider establishing a community/cultural/performing arts center to act as a focal point to Virginia Square.

• Preserve/maintain existing park areas

• Potential expansion of public space surrounding the Arlington Arts Center

Transportation, Parking
And Circulation

• Improve pedestrian connections (Monroe Street Walkway concept, Virginia Square Metro Station access, connections to Clarendon and Ballston, safe pedestrian crossings of arterial streets, 9th Street Greenway)

• Explore the provision of public parking on commercial properties (shared parking) within Virginia Square to decrease parking on surrounding residential streets

• Explore the provision of a new parking facility to serve a cultural/performing/arts center and to meet the needs of existing facilities such as churches, medical buildings, Arlington Arts Center, GMU, and for future retail development

• Propose appropriate street profiles for major roadways (Fairfax Drive, Wilson Blvd., Washington Blvd., Monroe Street, 9th Street) to achieve pedestrian friendly, attractive, and safe rights-of-way. Evaluate travel lane capacity and design, street parking, sidewalks, street trees, lighting, medians, and other features.

• Promote street-front retail uses and design elements that make a lively "urban village" atmosphere

• Evaluate zoning and land use patterns on the edges of Virginia Square and recommend appropriate transitions from dense areas of Virginia Square to less dense residential areas and neighborhoods (types of uses, tapering of building heights, landscape buffering, open space)

• Analyze the scale of major development or redevelopment sites: Arlington Funeral Home property, area between Lincoln Street, Fairfax Drive, 10th Street and Wilson Boulevard, etc.)

• Propose Wilson Blvd./Washington Blvd./10th Street as Gateways into Virginia Square

• Maintain commitment to affordable housing

• Ensure continuation of medical facilities

• Ensure coordination of GMU development with the Virginia Square area community

Virginia Square Sector Plan Review: Proposed Process and Time

2001 -- Month	County Staff Tasks	Public Process
January	- Define scope of work and determine planning process - Set-up interdepartmental working group - Initiate data collection	- Meeting with the Virginia Square Sector Plan Review Committee (VSSPRC) to review scope of work and time table
February	- Evaluation of existing plans and adopted vision and goals for Virginia Square. Reassessment of the vision and goals developed for Virginia Square as part of previous planning efforts. Prepare summary of findings	- 1st Community Meeting/Walking Tour - to identify issues, discuss planning process, and provide an introduction to the planning history of the area - including a look at the 1983 Virginia Square Sector Plan (February 24th)
March	- Develop a preliminary vision (concept and illustrative plans)	- 2nd Community Meeting: presentation of findings and visioning session
April	- Revise vision as needed	- Tentative work session with County Board
May	- Develop an action plan (including land use, urban design, marketing and transportation recommendations)	- 3rd Community Meeting - presentation of refined vision and recommendations
June	- Prepare Draft Plan	- 4th Community Meeting - present Draft Plan
July/August	- Finalize Draft Plan and prepare request to advertise
September		- County Board meeting - Request to Advertise Adoption of Plan - Presentation of Final Draft Plan to relevant Commissions
October/ November	- Prepare final staff reports and presentation	- Public hearings with Planning Commission and County Board for Adoption of Plan Addendum
December	- Publish adopted Plan Addendum

Participants in the Community Process

• Business Owners
• Property Owners
• Developers
• Ashton Heights Civic Association
• Ballston Virginia Square Civic Association
• Relevant Home Owners and Condominium Associations (subgroups)
• Parks and Recreation Commission
• Transportation Commission
• Pedestrian/Bicycle Advisory Commission
• Economic Development Commission
• Planning Commission
• County Board
• WMATA
• HALRB
• Arts Commission
• GMU and GMU Foundation
• Churches (St. Charles, St. Georges, Wilson Blvd. Christian, Clarendon Methodist)
• Greenway Task Force
• Ballston Partnership
• Clarendon Alliance
• VDOT
• Affordable Housing Task Force
• Arlington Arts Center

Key County Agencies

• Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (lead agency)
• Department of Economic Development
• Department of Public Works (Planning & Traffic Engineering)
• Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources
• Library Department
• Department of Human Services (Day Care Statistics)